Policy
Rumourmill: Chancellor ‘plotting mansion tax raid’ on £2mn+ homes
More speculation about potential tax hikes in November's Budget event.
Government confirms “emergency measures to significantly ramp up housebuilding” in London
'Time-limited, emergency measures' include reduced affordable housing requirements, relaxed planning rules, and levy relief for residential developers.
Renters’ Rights Bill clears parliament
Letting agents face big changes to accountability & compliance, as rental sector reforms await the Royal rubber stamp.
FCA takes over AML supervision
The move will 'ensure more consistent oversight' - including more collaboration with law enforcement.
Propertymark seeks industry views on significant home-buying reforms
Estate agency trade body is working up its response to government proposals for 'the biggest shakeup to the homebuying system in this country’s history'.
UK property tax regime is ‘second worst’ in the world
American think tank's analysis prompts fresh calls for the abolition of Stamp Duty.
Tom Bill: Lower borrowing costs offer respite for the Treasury & mortgage holders
Falling gilt yields may give the government more breathing room but possibly not enough to prevent new property taxes in next month’s Budget, explains Knight Frank's head of UK resi research.
London’s resi planning rules ‘set to be eased under emergency provisions’
Mayor Sadiq Khan & Housing Minister Steve Reed are said to be discussing a temporary relaxation of regulations in the capital.
No such thing as bad publicity: On navigating negativity, noise & nuance in Prime London’s property market
Beyond the algorithm-driven echo chambers, prime buyers remain focused on quality and long-term value, report Richard & Sophie Rogerson.
Last-minute planning reform updates aim to thwart local ‘blockers’
Government says it is 'serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again,' unveiling new call-in powers & a 'helping hand' for developments mired in legal reviews.
Stamp Duty ‘should be abolished as part of a wholesale reform of property taxation’
'SDLT certainly should not be increased,' declares an in-depth new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 'a well-designed tax system would have no place for SDLT at all.'
Abrahmsohn: Will we see a Christmas bonus for agents after the Budget?
Late November & December are notoriously tricky trading months - but this year could be different if Rachel Reeves decides to ditch the dreaded SDLT, writes the Glentree boss.